Greece
Greece is a southeastern European country situated perfectly between Europe, Africa and Asia, making it the perfect gateway for extensive international travel. Often called Western civilization’s birthplace, this is the home of many important ancient ruins and landmarks. Greece is also recognized for its photogenic white hillside houses, sandy beaches, Mediterranean cuisine and upbeat locals.
Getting There and Around
Greece has numerous international airports, but most of the long-haul international flights arrive to Athens, the main hub. There are direct flights to Corfu, Crete, Mykonos, Santorini, Thessonoliki and more from Schengen and other European countries. Visas are not needed for citizens traveling to Greece from Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States. Greece is a member of Schengen, and therefore, any visitors that are not citizens of the Schengen Zone may not remain in the country, or in the Schengen Zone for longer than 90 days. You can find more information on Schengen here.
For travel within the mainland, buses, trains, and airlines have routes between major cities. From the mainland to the islands, taking a ferry or a flight are your only options. There are small airports on the popular islands, such as Mykonos, Crete and Santorini. Ryan Air offers cheap internal flights around Greece, sometimes cheaper than the price of a ferry. To reach many islands, taking a ferry is your only option. There are numerous ferry companies to choose from, and many types of ferries such as highspeed boats and ferries to transport your car.
Money
Greece is a member country of the European Union; therefore, the official currency used in Greece is the Euro (EUR). Euro banknote denominations range from 10-500 EUR. There are 8 coins in the Euro currency, ranging from 1 cent to 2 EUR.
Recently, the EU has been minting new banknotes so you may see a big difference in the appearance of some denominations. Don’t be worried, as many of the older bills are still in circulation.
In Greece, the wait staffs are salaried employees, so tipping is not customary. Salaries are low, so it is OK to round up your 18.60 to 20 EUR for good service. Always check to ensure you were not overcharged for any items not consumed.
Language
The language spoken in Greece is Greek. Greek is a beautiful language, with unique lettering. Sometimes the language sounds similar to Spanish.
Hello – Χαίρετε (Chaíete)
Thank You – Ευχαριστώ (Ef harris stow)
Housing
Greece is by no means a great place to find cheap accommodations, especially during the summer season that is booming with tourists soaking up the sun and this country’s history. Traveling to Greece during the winter month offers better prices on lodging, but keep in mind that a lot of establishments on the islands shut down for business during this time of year. If you do your research and plan in advance, you can get a bed in a hostel for as low as 15 EUR, depending on the location in Greece.
Food
Greek cuisine lives up to the hype. It is a fresh, delicious blend of flavors from the Mediterranean, with important ingredients being Greek olive oil, olives, yogurt, cheese, eggplant, fish and various other meats. It is often said that the Mediterranean diet produces longevity and a healthy life. I recommend trying the tzatziki (dip with cucumber, yogurt and garlic usually served with pita), gyros (popular wrap often used as food to-go), moussaka (oven baked eggplant dish that resembles lasagna), fresh mussels, and the pastitsio (baked pasta dish).
Save Cash
Greece is by no means a cheap place to travel to, and with its current crisis found that prices have increased a little bit. Avoiding any of the touristy areas during the high season is the best way to save while traveling to Greece. Prices increase, shopkeepers are less likely to bargain, and you are even charged to sit on a sunbed during the busy summer months.
Avoid flashy restaurants and eat at small, local cafes. Look for a hidden, crowded hole-in-the-wall establishment and eat there. Not only will the food be more delicious and authentic, it will be less expensive as well.
Stay Fit
Hiking in Greece is popular, and there are many options available throughout the mainland and the islands. There is, of course, the infamous Mount Olympus, which has excellent climbing and trekking alongside some ancient Zeus mythology. The canyons of Samariá Gorge are picturesque and a challenge for hikers. Andros, located in the Cyclades near Mykonos, has mountains, valleys, villages and streams along scenic walk paths.
Use caution when drinking tap water in Greece. Often, especially on the islands, it is unfiltered salt water.
Stay Connected
Wifi is available at most of the larger hotels in Greece. Some of the smaller, family-owned accommodations only have Wifi available in the lobby, if at all. During my entire stay in Greece recently, I could not get a good connection anywhere! Even the paid Wifi connection wasn’t strong enough for me to purchase a plane ticket. If you need to be connected to the Internet, I recommend purchasing a pre-paid SIM card at one of Greece’s local mobile carriers. SIM cards only work with unlocked tri-band phones.
The electrical outlets that are used in Greece are the standard 230V type-C/F two-prong outlets that are found in most of Europe. Greece’s time zone is GMT +2.